Humanitarian Creates Dream Team: An Interview

“They are a population that has lost everything, and even hope is starting to fade. Darfur United gives them a sense of being part of something greater than being what they are now labeled: a refugee.” ~i-ACT Founder/Director Gabriel Stauring

Since 2005, the Founder and Director of i-ACT, Gabriel Stauring has visited Darfur 11 times, namely-the refugee camps along the Chad/Sudan border. The non-profit’s volunteer arm, Stop Genocide Now, has garnered international attention and now, i-ACT is essentially creating a soccer team made up of the best players from the refugee camps along the border.

The team is called Darfur United.

In addition to his numerous visits to Darfur, Stauring has spearheaded campaigns such as the 100-Day Fast for Darfur, Darfur Freedom Summer Vigils, Camp Darfur, Darfur Fast for Life, and is featured in ‘The Enough Moment’ by John Prendergast and Don Cheadle.

Athlebrities was thrilled to interview this amazing man about issues related to Darfur, the refugees in that area, how the beautiful game can change lives, and what we can do to help. I opted to run the interview, unedited, in its entirety because, quite frankly, every word is important. Continue reading

Darfur United Soccer Team: A Refugee Soccer Team’s Journey: On and Off the Field

Darfur United Soccer Team: A Refugee Soccer Team’s Journey: On and Off the Field


WHO? Darfur United.
WHAT? Build a Darfur soccer team of the best players from the twelve refugee camps in eastern Chad to participate in an international tournament.
WHY? Share the story of building the team to raise awareness and educate people about the situation in Darfur and the refugee experience. Facilitate ongoing support for education, sports, nutrition, and other services through relationships between refugees and global citizens.



In Darfur, Soccer is THE Game from iActivism on Vimeo.


Darfur United – This project will be a “living documentary,” as we share every step of the journey. The story will be told, day to day, through the Darfur United website, Facebook, Twitter, and on Indiegogo. We will then produce a documentary film of the entire journey.


Darfur United – a soccer team composed of the best players from the Darfuri refugee camps in eastern Chad – will give Darfuris an opportunity they have never had: a chance to cheer for their own. Check it all out at i-ACT: A global team dedicated to putting a face on the numbers of dead, dying, and displaced while creating mutually enriching relationships between those in danger and those willing and able to act, fostering a new culture of participation…the i-ACT Team has been traveling to the Darfuri refugee camps in Eastern Chad since 2005.

Please check em out if you love soccer, kids, hope and inspiration…for a small donation you can help build the real “dream team.”

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

Tracey McGrady: A Jersey for Darfur

Tracey McGrady: A Jersey for Darfur

Oh T-Mac…how I love your ways…Houston Rockets’ Tracey McGrady will switch jersey numbers next season to raise awareness for his Darfur humanitarian project…McGrady will ditch his No. 1 jersey and don a No. 3 jersey to raise attention for the soon to be released “3 Points” documentary that chronicle’s McGrady’s touching journey to Darfur refugee camps in Chad in 2007. The “3 Points” refer to the goals of peace, protection and punishment in Darfur….(more here)

After McGrady returned from his trip, he took action and the Darfur Dream Team was born…it’s a partnership of organizations and professional hoops hotties working together on the Sister Schools Program, an initiative to connect American middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities with sister schools in the 12 refugee camps in Chad.

Thank you Tracey McGrady…thank you.

As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com